4th Test: India crumble to a humiliating innings defeat at Old Trafford

Team India produced yet another horrible batting performance as they were crushed to a humiliating loss in the fourth Test by the hands of England at Old Trafford in Manchester on Saturday. Moeen Ali picked four for 39 as India were humiliated by an innings and 54 runs in the fourth Test. England now lead the five-match series 2-1.

Part-time offspinner Moeen Ali finished with figures of 4 for 39, sparking India's collapse from 53 for 2 to 66 for 6 on day three as England pressed hard for an early finish to the match with bad weather forecast. The English attack prospered even without paceman Stuart Broad, who retired hurt toward the end of the team's first innings after edging Varun Aaron's quick delivery between the grille and peak of his helmet and into his face.

Day three began with India still focusing on restricting England's lead but overnight pair of Joe Root (77) and Jos Buttler (70), who resumed on 237 for 6, pushed their seventh-wicket stand to 134 to tighten England's grip on the match. Root passed 50 for the fourth time in six innings this series and had added 29 runs to his overnight 48 before gloving a legside delivery by Pankaj Singh to MS Dhoni. It was Singh's first Test wicket and he then removed the dangerous Buttler, who resumed on 22 and had settled into an attacking groove by the time he drove a shot straight to Cheteshwar Pujara at mid-off. James Anderson was England's last man out for 9. Woakes was unbeaten on 26.

Trailing by 215 in their second innings, there were few concerns in India's second innings until the 11th over, when Woakes bowled a full length delivery that beat the outside edge and rapped Vijay's pads. Vijay scored 18 as India went to tea at 33 for 1. They lost nine wickets after tea, including one period of 5 for 13 in 29 balls. Gautam Gambhir (18) and Pujara were at the crease hoping for a strong fight-back as they had shown caution before the tea-break.

But the slide began in the sixth over after the break as Gambhir needlessly played at short-ball aimed at his body by Anderson. In doing so he gloved it to keeper Jos Buttler, who didn't make any mistakes. A ball later, Ali had Pujara trapped LBW although replays showed that the ball was turning enough to miss the leg-stump, but umpire Rod Tucker thought otherwise.

India were already in a precarious position when two overs later Ajinkya Rahane played a needless attacking stroke to Ali and offered a simple return catch that was duly gobbled up. Tottering at 61 for 5 it became worse for the visitors when Ravindra Jadeja simply failed to judge the pulse of the game and didn't curb his attacking instinct to be caught at slip. India had lost 5 wickets for 13 runs off 29 balls in a maddening session of only 25 minutes.

This careless attitude was visible from Dhoni too, who departed in a bid to attack Ali as well, as it was another needless shot though caught well at midwicket by Gary Ballance.

Continuing in the same vein, Bhuvneshwar Kumar (10) was soon run-out as any hopes of India surviving the day started disappearing quickly. Jordan then wrapped up the innings taking Varun Aaron (9) and Pankaj Singh (0) off successive balls in the 43rd.